In Memoriam
DMX
December 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021 · aged 50
Hip-Hop · Hardcore Rap
Earl Simmons, universally known as DMX (Dark Man X), brought a raw, visceral, and unapologetically aggressive energy to hip-hop following the shiny-suit era of the late 1990s. Born in New York in 1970, he possessed a distinctive, barking delivery that perfectly matched the gritty realism of his lyrics. He made history in 1998 by releasing two number-one albums in a single year, dominating the charts with anthems like 'Ruff Ryders' Anthem' and 'Party Up.' However, DMX was far more than just a hardcore rapper; he was a deeply spiritual and intensely vulnerable artist who frequently halted his chaotic, high-energy concerts to deliver passionate, weeping prayers to the crowd. He laid his fierce inner demons, struggles with trauma, and severe crack cocaine addiction bare for the world to see. Following a cocaine-induced heart attack, DMX passed away on April 9, 2021, at the age of 50. He remains one of hip-hop's most emotionally complex and commanding figures.
Milestones
Ruff Ryders' Anthem, Party Up (Up in Here), X Gon' Give It to Ya
Also remembered in 2021
- Charlie Watts (1941–2021)
- Dusty Hill (1949–2021)
- Joey Jordison (1975–2021)
- SOPHIE (1986–2021)